SUPERIOR COURT -- A Vernon woman who admitted to overdosing on heroin in the 7-Eleven convenience store bathroom in Hamburg while her 5-year-old daughter screamed for help was sentenced to drug court probation.

Kassandra Potsel, 27, who resides in the Highland Lakes section of Vernon, appeared in state Superior Court on Feb. 8 in front of Judge Michael E. Hubner.

Potsel pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and will be enrolled into the drug court program for five years.

She was also sentenced to a month in the county jail but was given credit for 76 days already served.

According to police, on Aug. 20, 2017, Hamburg police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven on Route 23 for a report of a child locked inside a bathroom crying for help.

The officer learned en route that 7-Eleven employees had gained access to the bathroom and located the child and her mother, identified as Potsel.

Police said when they arrived, Potsel was lying on the floor suffering from an apparent heroin overdose.

As officers spoke to Potsel, she regained consciousness on her own, police said.

Two hypodermic needles, one on the floor and another on the baby changing table, and 10 bags of heroin were recovered from the bathroom and Potsel was transported to Newton Medical Center.

Potsel was released from the hospital's care and spent two days in the county jail.

Potsel was again arrested by the Sussex County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 28 and charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, specifically heroin, according to court records.

Although details of the arrest are limited, Potsel's case was remanded to municipal court and the charge was downgraded to a disorderly persons offense of failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to police.

According to court records, Potsel applied for the pre-trial intervention program in September following her initial arrest, but was denied entrance.

At the time of her arrest in August, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency was contacted but Hamburg Police Sgt. Jason Tangorra was unable to comment further as to the child's status.

Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.